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The choice between buying a home and renting one is among the biggest financial decisions that many adults make. But the costs of buying are more varied and complicated than for renting, making it hard to tell which is a better deal. To help you answer this question, our calculator takes the most important costs associated with buying a house and computes the equivalent monthly rent.

Broker Deal or No Deal? In a renter-heavy city like NYC, paying a broker to find you a decent place is just a way of life—for some, that is. We asked five New Yorkers: Would you rather pay a broker’s fee when you sign the lease or the same amount in higher rent over the course of 12 months?

Pay it forward I like working with brokers. I just don’t have the time to be on the Internet all day and making calls. I don’t mind paying a fee for quality work, which to me means promptly returning calls and emails, constant updates and finding options that really fit my wish list. I don’t like brokers who try to up-sell right away, without putting in the effort to find places that suit my criteria...

Last year, two friends and I moved into a small three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. We chose it for its relatively reasonable price — around $3,000 a month — and its convenient location. Just finding it was a challenge, but then we faced another one: deciding who would get each bedroom.

The bedrooms were different sizes, ranging from small to very small. Two faced north toward the street and had light; the third and smallest faced an alley. The largest had two windows; the midsize room opened onto the fire escape.

Every month, unrelated people move into apartments together to save on rent. Many decide to simply divide the rent evenly, or to base it on bedrooms’ square footage or perhaps even on each resident’s income.

Everyone wants to spot the next Soho or Park Slope. Ten real-estate experts offer their nominees.

The West 150sChosen by:Julia Vitullo-Martin, director of the Center for Urban Innovation at the Regional Plan Association.
Vitullo-Martin suggests investing in neighborhoods “with original housing stock built for the wealthy,” like Washington Heights—where the prices of spacious prewars have dipped in the past year. Unlike many up-and-coming outer-borough areas, this part of town has superb subway access, and retail shopping, though not fancy, is “diverse and active.”

West HarlemChosen by:Pam Liebman, president and CEO, the Corcoran Group.
It’s “a true New York neighborhood,” says Liebman, adding that it’s near three parks and has great transit...

If you are shopping for a new home, it’s equally important to shop around for the best mortgage rate, too. Rates can vary greatly between lenders and even seemingly small differences can end up saving – or costing you — a lot of money over time. Explore your options by comparing personalized mortgage rates to ensure you’re getting the right loan.

“Although the difference in monthly payment between a 4.5 percent interest rate and a 5.5 percent interest is not dramatic, your savings in interest paid over the life of the loan is significant,” said Erin Lantz, director of Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. “Mortgage rates will likely rise to 5 percent by the end of 2014 due to an improving economy and policy changes by the Federal Reserve...

You’re moving to New York. You want to live on the famous island–Manhattan island. You’ve heard horror stories about crazy rents and apartments that have no closets–apartments the size of closets. Where’s the best place for you?

Despite its relatively small size, Manhattan is a diverse place with neighborhoods as different from each other as apples to oranges. Bottom line: there’s a little something for everyone.

Linwood

Let’s start at the top: the tippy-top. Manhattan’s streets are numbered from the 210’s down to the single digits, and south of that the streets have names. At the top of the island is the neighborhood of Linwood, a section of the city that stretches from the upper 210’s down through the 190’s...

There are many options to consider when looking for a place to live. What kind of lifestyle do you desire? Do you want on-site amenities like a gym and underground parking? Do you prefer an urban setting or somewhere quieter? Take this quiz to find your perfect housing match.